Apparatus for treating textile filaments



Aug. 14, 1956 H. EGGlNK ETAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1955 & INVENTORS /4 99 40 s m Fmnz Efl'ier :01pm SUN-4.1:: I

Aug. 14, 1956 H. EGGINK ET AL 2,758,464

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Feb. 16, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTORS Heinz Eqc inii H Em ,FranzEm' u, FIG 8 m W11United States Patent APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS HeinzEggink, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Hugo Elling, Franz Ettinger, and KarlOstcrtag, Oberbruch-Grebben, and Kurd-Jurgen Schulze, Oberbruch,Germany, assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Enka Corporation,Enka, N. C., a corporation of Delaware Application February 16,' 1953,Serial Noi337',1'45' Claims priority, application Germany February14,1952

12 Claims. (Cl. 68-475) The present invention relates to an apparatusfor processing textiles.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus forprocessing filaments, such as those formed from synthetic materials.

Newly spun filaments of the above type must be processed just after thespinning thereof by being passed through several baths of treatingliquids of difiercnt types. These filaments are usually guided in groupsthrough the baths, and the movement of the filaments through the bathliquid creates a turbulence in the latter which produces an undesirablebending of the" filaments and at the same time a spreading of the sameso that short filament portions extend laterally from the filaments. ithas been found that sometimes the bending of the filaments may be asmuch as 30mm., and the spreading of the fibers produces an undesirableclinging of the filaments to each other. Also, the bending of thefilaments is particularly undesirable since it very often causes thefilaments to slip from the guide rolls.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the abovedisadvantages by providing an apparatus which prevents the creation of aturbulence in the bath liquid through which a group of filaments passes.

A further object of the present invention is toprovide an apparatus, forpreventing turbulence, which is of an extremely simple and ruggedconstruction.

With the above objects in view, the present invention consists of anapparatus for treating textile filaments, this apparatus including abath and apair of spaced guide rolls associated with the bath forguiding a group of filaments therethrough. A pair of opposite elongatedplatesare spaced from each other, located between the rolls, and arearranged along a path extending from one of the rolls to the other ofthe rolls so that when a group of filaments are guided between theplates the latterwill prevent a turbulence in the bath liquid betweenthe plates and will thereby prevent bending and spreading of thefilaments. Also, a floor portion extends between the plates and isconnected to the lower edges thereof to prevent a turbulence in theliquid at the underside of the group of filaments passing through thebath.

The novel features which are-considered" as character istic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the: appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its methodof. operation, together with. additional objects and advantagesthereof,v will be best understood from the following description:

'ofi specific embodiments when read in. connection with theaccompanyingv drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a known treating bath andillustrates the turbulence of a liquid therein;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic top plan view of the structure of Fig.2;

2,758,464 Patented Aug. 14,, 1956 "ice Fig. 6 is a transversediagrammatic view of a variation of the structure of Fig. 5; N

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevational of still another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a further variation of the structure of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a conventional treating bath is shown inFig. l where the guide rolls 1 and 2 are associated with the bath forguiding a group of filaments therethrough in the direction shown by thearrow at the lower part of Fig. 1. The filaments produce a turbulence inthe liquid of the bath which causes the bath liquid to circulate in thedirection of the dotted lines 3 and arrows thereon shown in Fig. 1. Aswas mentioned above, this turbulence is very undesirable because itproduces undesirable bends in the filaments and furthermore causes thefilament fibers to spread so that short fine filament portions extendfrom the filaments and cause the latter to undesirably cling to eachother.

Figs. 2- and 3 show one possible construction for overcoming thedisadvantages of the" conventional structure illustrated in Fig. 1. Asis shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of plates 4 are arranged in the bath 14 in spaced relation to each other and extending between the guide rolls1 and 2 which guide the filaments to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and3, the roll 1 being an entrance roll for introducing the filaments tothe bath and the roll 2 being a discharge roll for discharging thefilaments from the bath. The plates 4 are located fairly closeto therolls' 1 and to the group of filaments and extend above the level 5 ofthe liquid in the bath, and these plates 4 'efijectively prevent aturbulence of the type shown in Fig. 1. The plates 4 are interconnectedby a floor membet 7 which extends between the plates 4 and is connectedto the bot-tom edges thereof, this floor member 7' being located closeto the underside of the group of filaments so as. to prevent anyturbulence in the bath liquid at the underside of the group of filamentspassing" through the bath;

It is possible to mount the trough-shap'ed structure 4 7 in any suitableway in the bath so that it is located in the position shown in Figs. 2and 3, and Fig. 3 illustrates one possible supporting structure whichincludes. the straps 11 fixed to and extending from the plates 4 andengaging opposite edges of the bath so as to maintain the structure 4, 7in the position shown;

Fig. 4 illustrates a variation of the structure of the inventionaccording to which: the floor part 7' is inclined so that its'right end,as viewed in Fig. 4,. is more distant from the entrance roll 1 than itsleft end isdistant from the discharge roll 2, and thus the floor 7'graduallyapproaches the filaments as they proceed throughthebath. tovery effectively prevent turbulence at the dis! charge roll 2. Moreover,the side walls24 of the-embodi ment of Fig. 4 are each formed at theiropposite ends with cutouts 12 into which the rollsl and 2' respectivelyextend, so that turbulence of the bath liquid is efiectively eliminatedeven at 'the region of the rolls 1 and 2;

Figs. 5 and 5a illustrate a variation according to which the dischargeroll 2 is formed with annular grooves 13,. respectively adjacent itsopposite ends, and the troughshaped structure 4",.7 extends into thesegrooves to reduce turbulence in the region of the discharge roll 2 in.way;

Fig; 6 illust'ratesa furthervariation' accordi'ngto whieh 3 the sideplates 9 extend to points opposite the end faces of the guide rolls sothat the turbulence of the liquid can be "reatly reduced in this way.

Fig. 7 illustrates a structure corresponding in all respects to that ofFigs. 2 and 3except that the floor portion 7" of the trough-shapedstructure is downwardly curved its opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 7, soas to produce a more laminar flow of the bath liquid in the region ofthe entrance and exit rolls. 7

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a structure which also corresponds to thatof Figs. 2 and 3, the structure ll being difierent in that the doorportion 7 of the troughshaped structure is approximately 3 of the lengthof the side plates 4 and is located adjacent to the discharge roll 2. Inthis way a great saving of the material of the trough-shaped structureis effected wit r g any increase in the turbulence of the bath h theportions of the filaments approaching the discharge roll 2, whereturbulence is most undesirable.

All of the va ious embodiments of the trough-shaped structure may bemounted on the bath in the same way "as illustrated in Fig. 3, and ofcourse other supporting structures are possible without departing fromthe scope of the invention. The guide rolls shown in the variousembodiments may be mounted on hangers as schematically shown in Figs. 5and 6 or any other supporting structure may be used for supporting therolls. The arrows 6 in Fig. 3 illustrate how the treating liquid passingthrough the trough-shaped structure 4, 'i' circulates about thetrough-shaped structure from the discharge end of the bath to theentrance thereof.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types oftextile treating apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inapparatus for preventing turbulence in a bath liquid for treatingtextile filaments, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout depart-- ing in any way from the spirit or the presentinvention.

Without furtheranalysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of his invention and,therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rollswithin saidtank having axes parallel to 'each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; and a pair ofopposite elongated plates supported by said side walls in spacedrelation to each other, being located between said rolls along a pathextending from one of said rolls to the other of said rolls, beingsubstantially normal to said bottom wall and having a top edge and abottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall than said guiderolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid betweensaid plates when a group of filaments are guided between said plates andto thereby prevent bending and spreading of the filaments.

2. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to eachother and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; apair Cal . 4 ofopposite elongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relationto each other and being located between said rolls along a pathextending from one of said rolls to the other of set rolls, beingsubstantially normal to said bottom wall and having a top edge and abottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall than said guiderolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid betweensaid plates when a group of filaments are guided between said plates andto thereby prevent bending and spreading of the filaments; and a floormember c; ttnding between said plates and being connected theretobeneath the top edges thereof.

' 3. Apparatus for treating extile filaments, comprising, incombination, a tank for containing a liquid for treat lug textilefilaments and having a bottom wall and side a air of spaced guide rollswithin said tank having I each other and to said bottom wall of said 'nga group of filaments therethrough; a pair of opposite elongated platescarried by said side walls in spaced relation to each other and beinglocated between said rolls along a path extending from one of said rollsto the other of said rolls, being substantially normal to said bottomwall and having a top edge and a bottom edge, the latter being nearer tosaid bottom wall than said guide rolls, said plates adapt d to prevent aturbulence in the liquid between said plates when a group of filamentsare guided between said plates and to thereby prevent bending andspreading of the filaments; and a floor member extending between saidplates and being connectcd to the bottom edges thereof.

4. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tool; for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments andhaving a bottom wall and side walls; apair of spaced guide rolls withinsaid tank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall ofsaid tank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; a pair ofopposite elongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relationto each other and being located between said rolls along a pathextending from one of said rolls to the other of said rolls, beingsubstantially normal to said bottom wall and havin a top edge and abottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall than said guiderolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid betweensaid plates when a group of filaments are guided between said plates andto thereby prevent bending and spreading of the filaments; and a floormember extending between said plates and being connected to the bottomedges thereof, said floor member being located close to said guiderolls.

5. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; and a pair ofopposite elongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relationto each other and being located between said rolls along a pathextending from one of said rolls to the other of said rolls, beingsubstantially normal to said bottom wall and having a top edge and abottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall than said guiderolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid betweensaid plates when a group of filaments are guided between said plates andto thereby prevent bending and spreading of the filaments, each of saidplates being formed with cutouts respectively located at opposite endsthereof and in which said rolls respectively extend.

6. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank torcontaining a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls: a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough, at least one of saidguide rolls being formed with a pair of cutouts;

and a pair of opposite elongated plates carried by said side walls inspaced relation to each other and being located between said rolls alonga path extending from one of said rolls to the other of said rolls,being substantially normal to said bottom wall and having a top edge anda bottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall than saidguide rolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquidbetween said plates when a group of filaments are guided between saidplates and to thereby prevent bending or spreading of the filaments,said plates relspectively extending into said cutouts 01 said one guider0 l.

7. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrcugh, at least one of saidguide rolls being formed with a pair of annular grooves spaced from eachother; and a pair of opposite elongated plates carried by said sidewalls in spaced relation to each other and being located between saidrolls along a path extending from one of said rolls'to the other of saidrolls, being substantially normal to said bottom wall and having a topedge and a bottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall thansaid guide rolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in theliquid between said plates when a group of filaments are guided betweensaid plates and to thereby prevent bending or spreading of thefilaments, said plates respectively extending into said grooves of saidone guide roll.

8. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing aliquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; a pair of oppositeelongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relation to eachother and being located between said rolls along a path extending fromone of said rolls to the other of said rolls, being substantially normalto said bottom wall and having a top edge and a bottom edge, the latterbeing nearer to said bottom wall than said guide rolls, said platesadapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid between said plates when agroup of filaments are guided between said plates and to thereby preventbending and spreading of the filaments; and a floor member extendingbetween said plates and being connected to the bottom edges thereof,said floor member being located close to said guide rolls and extendingbeneath at least one of said guide rolls.

9. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank for guiding a group of filaments therethrough; a pair of oppositeelongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relation to eachother and being located between said rolls along a path extending fromone of said rolls to the other of said rolls, being substantially normalto said bottom wall and having a top edge and a bottom ing textilefilaments and having a bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spacedguide rolls within said tank having axes parallel to each other and tosaid bottom wall of said tank, one of said rolls being an entrance rollfor guiding filaments ,into said bath and the other of said' rolls beinga discharge roll for guiding filaments out of said bath; a pair ofopposite elongated plates carried by said side walls in spaced relationto each other and each extending from a point adjacent one of said rollsto a point adjacent the other of said rolls, being substantially normalto said bottom wall and having a top edge and a bottom edge, the latterbeing nearer to said bottom wall than said guide rolls, said platesadapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid between said plates when agroup of filaments are guided between said plates and to thereby preventbending and spreading of the filaments; and a door member extendingbetween and being connected to bottom edges of said plates, said floormember being approximately /5 the length of said plates and beinglocated next to said discharge roll.

11. Apparatus for treating textile filaments, comprising, incombination, a tank for containing a liquid for treating textilefilaments and having a bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spacedguide rolls within said tank having axes parallel to each other and tosaid bottom wall of said tank for guiding a group of filamentstherethrough; a pair of opposite elongated plates carried by said sidewalls in spaced relation to each other and being located between saidrolls along a path extending from one of said rolls to the other of saidrolls, being substantially normal to said bottom wall and having a topedge and a bottom edge, the latter being nearer to said bottom wall thansaid guide rolls, said plates adapted to prevent a turbulence in theliquid between said plates when a group of filaments are guided betweensaid plates and to thereby prevent bending and spreading of thefilaments; and a fioor member extending between said plates and beingconnected to the bottom edges thereof, said floor member edge, thelatter being nearer to said bottom wall than said guide rolls, saidplates adapted to prevent a turbulence in the liquid between said plateswhen a group of filaments are guided between said plates and to therebyprevent bending and spreading of the filaments; and a floor memberextending between said plates and being connected to the bottom edgesthereof, said floor member being located close to said guide rolls andhaving opposite end portions respectively curved downwardly away fromsaid guide rolls.

10. Apparatus for treating textile filaments comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treatbeing inclined with one end ofsaid floor member located at a diiferent elevation than an opposite endthereof.

12. Apparatus for treating textile filaments comprising, in combination,a tank for containing a liquid for treating textile filaments and havinga bottom wall and side walls; a pair of spaced guide rolls within saidtank having axes parallel to each other and to said bottom wall of saidtank, one of said rolls being an entrance roll for guiding filamentsinto said bath and the other of said rolls being a discharge roll forguiding filaments out of said bath; a pair of opposite elongated platescarried by said side walls in spaced relation to each other and eachextending from a point adjacent one of said rolls to a point adjacentthe other of said rolls, being substantially normal to said bottom walland having a top edge and a bottom edge, the latter being nearer to saidbottom wall than said guide rolls, said plates adapted to prevent aturbulence in the liquid between said plates when a group of filamentsare guided between said plates and to thereby prevent bending andspreading of the filaments; and a' floor member extending between andbeing connected to bottom edges of said plate, said floor member havingone end located adjacent to said entrance roll and an opposite endlocated adjacent to said discharge roll and said floor member beinginclined with said one end thereof located at a greater distance fromsaid entrance roll than the distance between said opposite end thereofand said discharge roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,913,601 Leppin June 13, 1933 2,308,511 Hilliard Jan. 19, 19432,516,268 Spalding July 25, 1950 2,613,521 Walmsley Oct. 14, 19522,674,113 Schrenk Apr. 6, 1954

3. APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION,A TANK FOR CONTAINING A LIQUID FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS AND HAVINGA BOTTOM WALL AND SIDE WALLS; A PAIR OF SPACED GUIDE ROLLS WITHIN SAIDTANK HAVING AXES PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAIDTANK FOR GUIDING A GROUP OF FILAMENTS THERETHROUGH; A PAIR OF OPPOSITEELONGATED PLATES CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALLS IN SPACED RELATION TO EACHOTHER AND BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID ROLLS ALONG A PATH EXTENDING FROMONE OF SAID ROLLS TO THE OTHER OF SAID ROLLS, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMALTO SAID BOTTOM WALL AND HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE, THE LATTERBEING NEARER TO SAID BOTTOM WALL THAN SAID GUIDE ROLLS, SAID PLATESADAPTED TO PREVENT A TURBULENCE IN THE LIQUID BETWEEN SAID PLATES WHEN AGROUP OF FILAMENTS ARE GUIDED BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND TO THEREBY PREVENTBENDING AND SPREADING OF THE FILAMENTS; AND A FLOOR MEMBER EXTENDINGBETWEEN SAID PLATES AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF.